The Big Eight

The Big Eight

October 26th of 2013 turned out to be a great day more me in the Iowa timber…after receiving permission to hunt this farm soon after moving to Iowa, I went on a small scouting trip, and found a spot that just stood out to me. It was outside corner of a cattle fence that created a funnel and it looked like the perfect spot to ambush a deer as they filtered off the crops and headed to their bed.

After a long hot and dry summer and most of our crops being off till the start of September, I knew that hunting the fields would be a little on the tough side, so I knew had to also focus on hunting in the timber in the mornings. So after hunting the first few weeks on mostly field edges and putting very little pressure in the timber, And with the first major cold front pushing in, I knew it was time to get into the timber.

After the rain and winds came and went on October 25th, I knew I needed to get in and hunt the fence corner. I had not hunted this farm at all up to now so I had not hung any stands, so I knew I had to slip in there and just get up with my Lone wolf climber.

As always, it was tough to drag myself out of bed and get myself prepared to head to the timber. But I was walking across the cattle pasture and heading towards my corner, I realized what an awesome morning it was. Stars where out and it was a cold 29 degrees. As I snuck in and got my Lone Wolf setup, I could feel that this just might be a special morning.

As I got everything situated in the stand, I reached and got my grunt/wheeze call and let out a couple grunts followed with a snort wheeze. It was still dark, but I like to call a few times and let the deer know where I am at. I found out that can be very effective before the rut.

As it started braking day and the woods started to wake up, I realized how lucky I was to be spending time out in Gods wonderful creation. It is something I really enjoy, and if you have never been out there when the woods is waking up, you are defiantly missing out!

I snapped back into my senses, when I caught a slight movement about 40 yards out in front of my stand. I quickly picked up my Nikon binoculars and saw antlers and with another look I realized that he was a definite shooter, and he was heading straight at me. I slowly go my bow of the bow holder and got myself into position to take the shot. He slowly walked into my shooting range at about 22 yards and I drew my bow and gave him a soft grunt. He stopped perfectly broadside, and I released my Easton FMJ tipped with a 100 grain Rage Brodhead, and watched as my arrow hit him tight in on the shoulder and lodge itself into the opposite shoulder. He took off and ran about 30 yards and stopped and looked back at me. As he was standing there, I noticed his back legs where getting wobbly and a few minutes later he toppled over, not more the 50 yards from my stand. What a feeling that was to have the biggest 8 point, I had ever seen, laying 50 yards from my stand, and I had just been in the stand for 45 minutes !

Wow, what a way to start my season. I just sat there for a while and soaked up the moment…. and thought about how blesses I am to live and hunt in such a great state. I had to quickly give my wife a call and let her know that we were going to have another taxidermy bill. After sitting there for about a half an hour, I decided it was time to go and get my hands on this beautiful deer. As I walked up to him I couldn’t believe what a great 8 point he was. He had everything you dreamed about, wide spread, long tines, and very symmetrical.

After having my good friend Richard help me get him out, I finally got him measured up and he scored right around 155” as an 8 point. I felt very blessed to harvest such a great deer. With a late muzzleloader tag in my pocket, I was already dreaming about the next great deer that I was hoping to see!